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Spud Miller's Cave / fuel tank to fuel pump elevation
« on: July 21, 2019, 11:45:49 AM »
im wondering if we are having fuel draw issues on our rig. yesterday on the stand it started no problem three times. we filled it to the top in the tank and proceeded to start three times using most of the 5 gallons in the tank without issue. at the track we started it on the stands no problem and im pretty sure i filled it up to say 1/2" of full. made a test pass and it started no problems in the staging lanes like it should.
we went up for the second pass and it just would not prime/start. i dont know how full the tank was, im guessing within an 1" of full. the pump was just rebuilt by Enderle, its an 1100. it has six startups on it. the second you take the fuel bottle away it dies. the last time trying to start he just squeezed the bottle to keep running and it should of primed but it didnt. so we are wondering if there is a problem with height of tank and pump elevation.
all feds have the tanks way up front. I just put solid 1.25 alum tubing straight from tank to the pump thinking the braided i had on there was sucking air. we just stuck on the new pump inlet fitting on it, new o-ring etc and made sure it was seated correctly.
its just frustrating to us seeing how it ran fine one time and then next time its a little bitch and wont run. its a simple system but we are wondering if the fuel level and pump elevation might be part of the problem. what perplexes me is how can you start it three times without refilling the tank and it starts perfect each time with varied fuel levels and then when its time to go play it decides not to. he was pouring the fuel in to keep running and long enough to prime and second he pulled the fuel away it dies so we know the pump isnt priming as the feed line up to the BV is dry. I checked the pump drive shaft and its just fine.
Lets talk about fuel level and pump elevation. sitting on the ground the tank is 11" to the top. so full would be about 10.5". the bottom of the pump inlet fitting is 10", the barb is 1", the bottom of the pump is 13.5", the center of the pump is about 14.5 (guess).
Do we need to make a taller tank?
my buddy was doing some research and he noticed a lot of the older feds the motors sat lower in the frame (guessing) so the tanks were tall enough to prime etc no issue. whats the history on evolution to the new modern chassis design to the older ones if there is one? I know each chassis is custom fabricated and no industry standard. is there a target crank shaft height guys shoot for or does that matter.
Thank you
Dean
we went up for the second pass and it just would not prime/start. i dont know how full the tank was, im guessing within an 1" of full. the pump was just rebuilt by Enderle, its an 1100. it has six startups on it. the second you take the fuel bottle away it dies. the last time trying to start he just squeezed the bottle to keep running and it should of primed but it didnt. so we are wondering if there is a problem with height of tank and pump elevation.
all feds have the tanks way up front. I just put solid 1.25 alum tubing straight from tank to the pump thinking the braided i had on there was sucking air. we just stuck on the new pump inlet fitting on it, new o-ring etc and made sure it was seated correctly.
its just frustrating to us seeing how it ran fine one time and then next time its a little bitch and wont run. its a simple system but we are wondering if the fuel level and pump elevation might be part of the problem. what perplexes me is how can you start it three times without refilling the tank and it starts perfect each time with varied fuel levels and then when its time to go play it decides not to. he was pouring the fuel in to keep running and long enough to prime and second he pulled the fuel away it dies so we know the pump isnt priming as the feed line up to the BV is dry. I checked the pump drive shaft and its just fine.
Lets talk about fuel level and pump elevation. sitting on the ground the tank is 11" to the top. so full would be about 10.5". the bottom of the pump inlet fitting is 10", the barb is 1", the bottom of the pump is 13.5", the center of the pump is about 14.5 (guess).
Do we need to make a taller tank?
my buddy was doing some research and he noticed a lot of the older feds the motors sat lower in the frame (guessing) so the tanks were tall enough to prime etc no issue. whats the history on evolution to the new modern chassis design to the older ones if there is one? I know each chassis is custom fabricated and no industry standard. is there a target crank shaft height guys shoot for or does that matter.
Thank you
Dean